The Resurrection of the Righteous – Opening Remarks: For a Faithful Christian, death is not something to fear, Hebrews 2:14,15; Philippians 1:21,23. There is a certain finality to death. The faithful child of God an advantage over unbelievers. This earth is one huge graveyard! Some day every grave will be opened!

The Resurrection of the Dead – some basic Facts: There will be a resurrection of all the dead, John 5:28,29; 11:23-25; Acts 24:15. Certain people in the first century denied the Resurrection. Matthew 22:23-32; Acts 23:6-8; I Corin- thians 15:12; 2 Timothy 2:17,18.

“Some Basic Facts” -- continued All the dead will be raised at the same time, John 5:28,29; Acts 24:15. The Bible does not teach that there will be 1,000 years between the resurrection of the righteous and the wicked! Note John 6:39,40,44,54 How could there be 1,000 years after the “last day?”

“Some Basic Facts” -- Continued The Bible gives us more information about the resurrection of the righteous than it does regarding the resurrection of the wicked. Both the righteous and the wicked will be raised, John 5:28,29. I Thessalonians 4:13-18, and I Corinthians 15:50-58 tell us about the blessings of the righteous.

The Resurrection of the Dead is Attributed to the Power of God Jesus attributed it to the power of God, Mark 12: Paul attributed it to the power of God, I Corinthians 6:14. Those who do not believe in the resurrection: Greatly “err,” Matthew 22:29. Know not “the power of God.”

I Corinthians 15 – If There be no Resurrection, Then: “Christ is not risen,” I Cor. 15:13. Yet the resurrection of Christ is a central theme of the gospel, I Corin- thians 15:3. Preaching is vain; faith is vain, I Corinthians 15:14. The Apostles were “False Witnesses,” I Corinthians 15:15.

Consequences – If There be No Resurrection, then: “Your Faith is Vain,” I Cor. 15:17. You are “yet in your sins,” 15:17; Romans 4:25. Those who have fallen asleep in Christ “are perished,” I Cor. 15:18. But Christ is “risen from the dead,” and became “the first fruits of them that slept,” I Corinthians 15:20.

The Resurrection of the Body: Some do not believe it can happen because they cannot understand it; they ask “with what body do they come?” I Corinthians 15:35. Note the reasoning of the inspired apostle, I Corinthians 15: In the natural world everything is given a body suitable to its environment, I Cor. 15:38,39. Illus. fish and birds.

The Resurrection of the Body -- continued That which is sown (buried) is that which is raised, I Cor. 15: That which is raised up will be “a Spiritual body,” I Cor. 15:44. “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven,” I Cor. 15:50. Our bodies will be fashioned like His “glorious body,” Philippians 3:20,21.

Consider the Glorious State of the Righteous When Resurrected “The dead will be raised incorruptible,” I Cor. 15:52. “This corruptible must put on Incorruption,” I Cor. 15:53. “This mortal must put on immortality,” I Corinthians 15:53. Death… “swallowed up in victory,” v.54 The Righteous will “be changed,” 15:51

Conclusion: In view of these glorious truths God’s children should be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, I Cor. 15:58. If our labor is not “in vain in the Lord,” what about those who are not “in the Lord?” 2 Timothy 2:10; Revelation 20:14,15; Matt. 25:41.